How to say "vulgar" in Japanese

• 下品げひんJLPT N2approx.Common
  na-adjective, nounThe most direct equivalent for 'vulgar' as crude or indecent — tasteless jokes, coarse language, unrefined behavior. Typical context: criticizing a dirty joke or someone's vulgar manner of speaking.
  下品げひん極きわまる盛り場さかりばに通かよいつける。↗

  He haunts the lowest resorts.
• 低俗ていぞくCommon
  na-adjective, nounCovers 'vulgar' as 'lowbrow': coarse, trashy content that panders to base tastes, emphasizing low quality rather than indecency. Typical context: calling a television program or magazine vulgar and lowbrow.
• 粗野そやCommon
  na-adjective, nounCovers 'vulgar' as rough and uncouth: manners, speech, or behavior lacking polish, with a nuance of boorishness or rustic roughness. Typical context: describing someone's rude, unrefined way of speaking or acting as vulgar.
  あの長髪ちょうはつの青年せいねんは粗野そやだ。↗

  That long-haired youth is rude.
• 下等かとうCommon
  na-adjective, no-adjectiveMeans 'inferior' or 'low-grade' above all; its 'vulgar' is the base, low-class sense. Seldom the word you want for vulgar jokes or coarse conduct — it judges people or things to be lowly and inferior.
  文学ぶんがく、音楽おんがくあるいは演劇えんげきに対たいする批評家ひひょうかの仕事しごとは、あらゆる仕事しごとのうちで最もっとも下等かとうな仕事しごとである。↗

  The trade of critic, in literature, music, and the drama, is the most degraded of all.
• はしたないCommon
  i-adjectiveCovers 'vulgar' as improper or unseemly: immodest, disgraceful conduct that reflects badly on the person, rather than coarse taste or content. Typical context: reproaching someone for improper, embarrassing behavior.

Choose 下品 for crude or indecent taste, speech, and behavior; 低俗 for lowbrow entertainment or content; 粗野 for rough, uncouth manners; 下等 for the base, low-class sense; and 「はしたない」 for improper, unseemly conduct.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 下品げひんvulgar
• 低俗ていぞくvulgar
• 粗野そやrustic
• 下等かとうinferior
• はしたないimproper
• えげつないdirty
• 不意気ぶいきvulgar
• 野卑やひvulgar
• 俗悪ぞくあくvulgar
• 猥雑わいざつvulgar
• 蓮っ葉はすっぱvulgar
• 俗っぽいぞくっぽいvulgar
• 卑俗ひぞくvulgar
• 俗臭芬々ぞくしゅうふんぷんvulgar
• 俗なるぞくなるvulgar
• 品のないひんのないvulgar
• 下劣げれつbase
• さもしいlow
• ガラが悪いガラがわるいill-bred
• ガラの悪いガラのわるいill-bred
• 品がないひんがないunrefined (character, manners)
• ゲスいsleazy
• 趣味の悪いしゅみのわるいin bad taste
• 低級ていきゅうlow-grade
• 尾籠びろうindecent
• 低次元ていじげんlow-level
• 教養のないきょうようのないcrude
• 汚いきたないindecent (language, etc.)
• 卑しいいやしいvulgar
• 下世話げせわvulgar
• 蓮葉はすはvulgar
• 下賎げせんlowly
• 無趣味むしゅみtasteless
• 俗ぞくvulgar